Tiny Kyle?

This is me with my maternal grandmother on my christening day.

July 22, 1979.

Same age as Fannie Bradley is today.

4 months and a few days.

Tiny Kyle? Maybe, but with a WHOLE lot of John! And a whole lot of cheeks!

Fannie looks larger and her coloring is much darker than mine was. Fannie has more hair too. Maybe we have the same mouth?

Now I need to get a baby pic of John to compare!

And He's Off!

Grandfather Joe left today for...

and he's going to be gone for 5 weeks!

He flies into Johannesburg, South Africa where he will spend 2 days.

Then he flies to Livingstone, Zambia and will explore Victoria Falls.

And go on a fishing trip on the Zambezi River

Where he might run into one of these guys:

or this guy:

or even this large family:

or since he is missing Georgia-Florida he might as well see one of these guys:

Then its back to Johannesburg for 2 days before he leaves for Lilongwe, Malawi.

From there he heads to Tanzania and goes on a safari.

We let him borrow the Nikon D90. I can't believe I am going to be without that amazing piece of technology for the next 5 weeks but I will live, I guess. Taking pics of FB will be done with my handy ole' Canon Elph so that should be interesting. He did buy an AMAZING new lens for the Nikon that we will get to keep once he gets back. This thing could read your next door neighbor's newspaper.

So we are hoping to have some pictures that resemble these:

Then he meets up with a group and goes on a mission trip for 3 weeks where his group will be building water wells. Grandfather Joe will be driving one of the trucks for his group, a perfect job for him. He has bought/sponsored 2 wells in honor of his first grandchild, Miss Fannie Bradley.

Dedicating a new well so the villages don't have to drink from this:

A traditional contaminated water hole

We spent the morning at church with Grandfather Joe (who yet has been named, he is waiting on FB to do the honors) followed by lunch before we told him goodbye. Tears were shed, and not by the baby.

We are so proud of Grandfather and his big adventure! He gets back on the Monday after Georgia-Florida so hopefully we will have good news about the big game to share with him!

Fannie is going to look so different when he gets back! We miss him already!

Fannie Bradley's newest boyfriend

We got to meet Fannie Bradley's newest boyfriend tonight. Our friends Lisa and McIvor Mann welcomed their little boy Thatcher into the world on Thursday and he is a cutie!!

Thatcher Michael Mann

September 24 at 11:32 am

8 lbs 6 oz

21.5 inches

McIvor, Thatcher and Uncle John

McIvor's new Mini Me

It has been 4 months since I have held a newborn and you really do forget how small they really are. And Thatcher is not even a small baby. I am just used to lovin on my 16 pounder these days.

Congratulations to the new Mann Family!

September 23, 2008

The day John found out I was pregnant.

September 23, 2009


To my daughter,

Fannie Bradley, it was one year ago that I found out Mommy was pregnant with you. It is difficult to describe the incredible joy this news brought as your arrival and first four months have overshadowed all of my prior memories. I can tell you that Mommy and Aunt Anne were able to completely surprise me at the special corner of Peachtree Street and 10th Street, where I also proposed marriage to Mommy in front of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta during the Peachtree Road Race. Lucky for us that she accepted.

With Aunt Anne videotaping and Mommy using flash cards, I learned the significance of 1968 Peachtree Road = your place of birth (Labor for Mommy & Delivery for You at Piedmont Hospital).

It was a surreal evening of amazement, happiness and grace; truly your news was a blessing from God. Again, you have already eclipsed all of my hopes and dreams and I am so glad to be your Daddy. I know you have already found your Laughing Place that Uncle Remus told us about at home with Mommy, Daddy, Sundance & Butch on Valley Brook Drive in Atlanta, Georgia. Watch out world, Fannie Bradley is here!


Love always,

Daddy

Fannie Bradley's 1st Georgia Game

Saturday, September 5, 2009

Fannie enjoyed watching her first UGA game at the Taco Stand with some of her Aunts (and Uncles too!)

Aunt Katie and Uncle Shelby were in town from Birmingham and gave us the latest updates on their new cooking company....Icing on the Cookie!

Sticking out her tongue, the new trick of the week!

Caroline, Ashton, Kyle and Katie

Snoozing on Daddy's lap

So sweet. Hope those baby blues stay blue like her Daddy's.

Unfortunately, the Dawgs lost. If that's the only game they loose this season Fannie will be happy!

Night #2

in the big girl crib went well.

and we did not sleep in her room with her.

We moved back to our room and hooked the monitor up to the televison.

Fannie~television. Best show out there.

September 21, 2008

The day I found out I was pregnant.

This is a letter I wrote that night and had it saved on the computer.

Dear precious Baby,
So it is 7:36 pm on Sunday night, the day I found out about you. I feel like I should jot down a few thoughts that are running through my mind and heart right now. Your sweet Daddy went to Ribs, Etc. for lunch and to do his football picks. I stayed at home, on the computer reading blogs! It was about 1:30 and thinking that daddy would be home around 2:00 I decided to hop in the shower. But before doing so, I decided to take a home pregnancy test just for the heck of it. Well, I did and laid the test on the bathroom counter. Immediately a - comes up. So I am disappointed. I notice another window on the test and wonder what its function is and decide that I better read the instructions. Good thing I did. You have to wait for a mark to appear in that second smaller window to know that the test is working correctly. Ah, ok. So I look back at the tester stick and now there is a + in the first larger window. WHAT?!?!? I return to the instructions and read the entire pamphlet about 3 times. Ok, ok, deep breathes. So I am in disbelief and want to call your sweet daddy but I have grander plans for him, more on that later. So I plan to re-test tomorrow morning, first thing and hope to get the same miraculous result. How could I ever be so lucky? After leaving the bathroom, I immediately hop on the internet and figure out when you might grace us with your presence. According to several websites, you would be due on May 31, 2009. Boy, do we love May. That is the month that your sweet daddy was born (May 9), your great grandmother, Rhee, was born (May 9 too). Your great aunt and uncle, Coty and Chuck, were also born in May (May 9, no joke). And your mommy and daddy’s wedding anniversary is on May 20, best day of my life to date and I am pretty confident that your daddy feels the same way. Not to mention that May is home to Mother’s Day. Or you could be late and arrive in June, a very special month in the Orr family. All I want to do is tell your daddy but I have something very fun planned for him. He surprised me on July 4, 2005 on the corner of Peachtree and 10th Streets and I plan to surprise him on that same corner on a cool fall September day with your fun Aunt Anne armed with a video camera to capture the moment. If I can stand it, I will try and hold out until Monday, September 28, the day 6 years ago that your daddy and I went on our first date to a UGA football game. We already have dinner reservations at Pano’s and Paul’s to celebrate….regardless of whether I tell him before then or on that day, we will be celebrating you! Your sweet daddy and I want to become parents so bad that it hurts. We both have so much love to share and want to share it with you. My heart melts thinking about the relationship that you will have with your sweet daddy. He loves harder than anyone I know and he will love you more than you will ever know. You are already the luckiest and most loved baby in the world.
I love you, baby.
Your mommy

The rest of the story is that I did take another test the next morning, it was positive. I took 6 more in the next 2 days, an array of different brands from different drug stores, just in case there were any recalls, yes I am a freak but when you are blessed with the most precious news you feel like it is too good to be true. I also took the tests in different locations, not just at home. Yes, I am a freak but y'all all knew that anyway! I even called my doctor and told the nurse that I had 8 positive tests and asked if I was pregnant. The answer was yes. All the while, I hid the news from John. The most anticipated 56 hours of my life. And we did dine at Pano's and Paul's. And we did celebrate the precious life we had created with God's help.

And the last chapter of the story ended on May 19, 2009 at 8:30 pm when God gave us Frances Bradley Hinson. A true gift.

Good night Peter Rabbit, Mopsy and Flopsy too! Good night Fannie!

Well, she did it. Or should I say we did it.

Fannie Bradley spent the night in her big girl bed for the first time last night.

Yep, at age 4 months and 1 day.

Don't judge!

And her parents may or may not have slept in the room too.

Again, don't judge!

The crib all ready and waiting on Miss FB, monogrammed Ultimate Crib Sheet and all!

Fannie Bradley snug as a bug in her sleep sack.

I just happened to have this sleep sack already so we are using it for right now.

It is a Cloud B LullaBag.

White is one of her best colors because of her coloring so she really looks like an angel in this thing!

I would love to know what sleep sacks y'all use so please leave me a comment and let me know. Any other thoughts or advice on the subject would be great too!

Fannie telling all of her bunny rabbit friends on the crib bumpers good night! And she does this funny thing we her feet, she did it when she was swaddled too. She lifts up both legs then slams them down on the bed...

***** VIDEO IS SUPPOSED TO BE HERE BUT I HAVE BEEN TRYING SINCE 4:00 TO UPLOAD IT (ITS NOW 9:00) AND IT WON'T WORK. I WILL TRY AGAIN ANOTHER DAY.*****

It was time but I am sad not to have this nugget by me at night!

May 21, the night we brought Fannie Bradley home from the hospital

Good night Baby Girl, sleep tight!

Thoughts on Fannie Bradley's 4th Month

When I look at this picture, I see John Hinson looking back at me but from what I hear I think I am the only person who thinks she looks more like him than me!

LAUGHING LAUGHING LAUGHING! She wiggles her whole body in laughter.

sticking out tongue

First beach trip, First Georgia Game (both posts are coming)

said a sentence: "I want my momma"

We had taken FB to the doctor and both of her grandmothers were with us. John was holding her and she was being a tad fussy and on the verge of a meltdown so I said I would take her to try and comfort her. So as I was approaching them to do the handoff, she said "I want my momma" plain as day. All 4 of us heard it. No joke.

trying to roll over, back to front

(she was more on her side but by the time I ran and got my phone to take a pic this is what I got)

nicknames: Fannie Fountain, Tiny Kyle, Honey Honey

playing Peek-a-Boo with her burp cloths

smiling: She smiles from her head to her toes, such a happy girl

rubbing her eyes when she is tired

kissing: when we go in to kiss her on the cheek she opens her mouth as if to kiss us back

naps are getting shorter and less frequent

talking: talks all the time! We are having full on conversations with FB. If you know a good infant translator let me know.

putting anything and everything into her mouth: her hands, our hands, toys, her clothes, burp cloths, car seat straps

finally putting some meat on those bones, she is just so dern long! The thighs are getting chunkier by the day. love it.

lost bow count: 0
found the light pink one in a dark corner of one of the diaper bags

Fannie B is looking forward to the Fall and cooler weather and all of the upcoming holidays. She can't wait to show y'all her new fall and winter wardrobe. I still can't believe we had a baby girl. Baby clothes, especially girl clothing, is like crack. Addicting. I would much rather buy clothes for her than for myself!

Favorite Photo Friday

Fannie Bradley and her Daddy

Saint Simons Island

September 12, 2009

The Loves of my Life.

4 Month Appointment

Fannie Bradley had her 4 month appointment this afternoon.

Here are her stats:

15 pounds 11 ounces (90th percentile, up from 75th)
27 inches (above 95th percentile)

She has basically grown an inch a month!

After a shot in each thigh, she was asleep as soon as we got out of the parking deck.

Nobody puts Baby in the Corner

I just walked in from a Book Club Dinner and this is the conversation that took place:

John: I have bad news.

Kyle: Oh great, what?

John: Dirty Dancing.

Kyle: What? Oh no. No No No.

(tears rolling down my face, doesn't help that I went to my 7th grade cousin's volleyball match at Pace this afternoon and kept looking for my grandfather, who obviously wasn't coming, so I am a little more emotional than normal)

Johnny Castle is gone.

I remember the slumber party where we watched Dirty Dancing and La Bamba both in the same night.

I am sad tonight, for more reasons than one.

We're Back!

just to hold you over.....until my Mommy gets unpacked and back to reality!

Fannie Bradley is leaving town....

and taking her parents and brothers with her!

We hadn't planned any previous trips this summer as we weren't sure what being new parents would entail but now that we think we have things under control we are off to St. Simons!

Some things I look forward to doing this week:

taking Fannie Bradley to the beach for the first time

going to Sweet Mama's for breakfast

taking the BOB offroad

hitting up Bailey Boys, open every day but Sunday!

taking Sundance and Butch to the Beach

using the pack 'n play for the first time

relaxing with my family

getting some much needed sunshine

reading The Help by Kathryn Stockett

taking lots of pictures

being out of Atlanta!

I am historically a heavy packer so imagine how much we are taking since the babe and both dogs are going! I have packed our entire house. Really, I have.

Happy Labor Day!

Fannie's First Art Exhibit

Fannie Bradley went to her first art exhibit on Friday night!

It was extra special because we know the artist, or should I say the sculptress!

Caroline Chisholm's mother Susie is a very talented sculptor.

Mrs. Chisholm and Caroline

Fannie's Favorite Sculpture ~ Is it Time Yet?

(reminds her of her two brothers)

Group picture with all of the babies!

A life size version of this: Johnny Mercer

will be unveiled in Downtown Savannah in November.

Congrats Mrs. Chisholm!

Mrs. Chisholm's website: click here!

Babies Don't Keep

So I took a little blogging break. I seem to do that every once in a while. Blogging is much harder than it looks. It is not for lack of content, or pictures or time. It is just that sometimes I would much rather spend those precious and limited moments with my baby, soaking in anything and everything that she does. You hear people with children always say such cliche statements like how great it is to experience life through your child's eyes, etc. Well, when you have a baby you don't think those statements are so cliche anymore. There really is no greater joy than watching your daughter stare so intently at her little hand for what she acts like is the first time when really it is more like the 17,000th time, today, then try to stuff it in her mouth. Babies don't keep. Fannie B don't keep.

The poem below pretty much sums up what I have been doing lately.

Song for a Fifth Child

By Ruth Hulburt Hamilton

Mother, O Mother, come shake out your cloth,

Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,

Hang out the washing, make up the bed,

Sew on a button and butter the bread.

Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?

She's up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.

Oh, I've grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue,

Lullabye, rockabye, lullabye loo.

Dishes are waiting and bills are past due

Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo

The shopping's not done and there's nothing for stew

And out in the yard there's a hullabaloo

But I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo

Look! Aren't his eyes the most wonderful hue?

Lullabye, rockaby lullabye loo.

The cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow

But children grow up as I've learned to my sorrow.

So quiet down cobwebs; Dust go to sleep!

I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep.